Advice- a good race to attend....

[stefrees]

I regularly travel abroad (from uk) to watch and sample races across Europe, but have so far only really been to biggish races- this year Flanders, the montalcino stage (damn lucky ) and the Pyrenees of the tour. I'm planning to do a couple of different races and indeed places next year, avoiding April as I'll be doing the tour of Flanders cyclosportive again and the tour. Can anyone shout out any ideas, with reasoning, can be either week long tours or day races, just with good appeal and access for a fan

 

[analo69]

I've heard Northern Italy is beautiful in the autumn. So what about Lombardy or some of the minor classics leading up to Lombardy. The food is outstandig as well.

As a Dane, I will highly recommend the worlds 2011. It is held just north of Copenhagen on a scenic route. The parcours is the flattest for years, so perhaps Cavendish can have a go for the victory. I will not guarentee for the weather. It can be anything between 8 degrees and strong wind to 20 degrees and sunshine. Copenhagen is an expensive place though. Easy acces. Airport nearby and only 45 min train drive from the city centre of Copenhagen to the circuit. Copenhagen is also known as a bicycle friendly city with lots of specific bicycle lanes. The mayor is trying to brand Copenhagen as the bicycle city no 1 in the world. But it is not bull****. Members of parliament, stock brokers, highschool teachers and everybody in between ride their bike to and from work.

 

[rhubroma]

The last time trial up the Col'd'Eze at Paris-Nice if they have it.

 

[Anonymous]

have a look at some of rusty's blogs or drop him an email... Hes the expert on european race travel

 

[stefrees]

I've heard Northern Italy is beautiful in the autumn. So what about Lombardy or some of the minor classics leading up to Lombardy. The food is outstandig as well.

As a Dane, I will highly recommend the worlds 2011. It is held just north of Copenhagen on a scenic route. The parcours is the flattest for years, so perhaps Cavendish can have a go for the victory. I will not guarentee for the weather. It can be anything between 8 degrees and strong wind to 20 degrees and sunshine. Copenhagen is an expensive place though. Easy acces. Airport nearby and only 45 min train drive from the city centre of Copenhagen to the circuit. Copenhagen is also known as a bicycle friendly city with lots of specific bicycle lanes. The mayor is trying to brand Copenhagen as the bicycle city no 1 in the world. But it is not bull****. Members of parliament, stock brokers, highschool teachers and everybody in between ride their bike to and from work.

You've just put a great idea in my head, it does sound really appealing, and I presume it will be a circuit also, plus can watch womens and u23's

 

[stefrees]

have a look at some of rusty's blogs or drop him an email... Hes the expert on european race travel

That's a good idea, would like to see some of the smaller races. Paris nice is a good idea also

 

[Anonymous]

That's a good idea, would like to see some of the smaller races. Paris nice is a good idea also

I think some of those early semi-classics are pretty easy to get to, and much more relaxed atmosphere at the start/finish than the grand tours.

Thats our aim for easter as the tour has been scuppered for us

 

[stefrees]

I think some of those early semi-classics are pretty easy to get to, and much more relaxed atmosphere at the start/finish than the grand tours.

Thats our aim for easter as the tour has been scuppered for us

Which of the semi classics, het nieuwsblad? I have loved every trip I've made to belgium

 

[Anonymous]

Which of the semi classics, het nieuwsblad? I have loved every trip I've made to belgium

Neil had a good time at both het nieuwsblad and dwaars door vlanderen, Rusty did Schelderpisj. All three got really good access at the finish line, and neil did his usual various spots around the course.
One of the benefits of those looping classics, if you have transport you can see the race two or three times.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

amstel gold race. it has big screen up the cauberg and the peloton goes ove rit 3x. so many most perfect thing to watch imo. and of cours they finish on it also

 

[ak-zaaf]

amstel gold race. it has big screen up the cauberg and the peloton goes ove rit 3x. so many most perfect thing to watch imo. and of cours they finish on it also

Personally I think visiting somewhat smaller races is more enjoyable.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Personally I think visiting somewhat smaller races is more enjoyable.

meh, visited the agr for years now with a small group on the cauberg and it's always fun.
always enough space on the top, because most people give up walking up the cauberg right at the foot and settle for a cafe

 

[stefrees]

I must admit I did contemplate agr, isn't there a sportive as well the day before/after?

 

[calculon]

vuelta a andalucia is a good one, i saw the time trial in malaga this year, brilliant access round the team buses & riders, nice relaxed atmosphere because it's an early season race; and andalucia is a beautiful part of the world, particularly in february, without the holidaymakers...

 

[LugHugger]

My favorite day out from the UK to watch cycling is to Word Cup cyclocross in Belgium. It's so easy, cheap and do-able in a day, it's a crime not to really! Koksijde (the sandy one) is on 27th November this year. Only one hour by car or bus from the Eurotunnel terminal Calais and about €9-10 for an unbelievable up close and personal day of racing. Oh yeah - did I mention the beer? life is good

 

[L'arriviste]

Neil had a good time at both het nieuwsblad and dwaars door vlanderen, Rusty did Schelderpisj. All three got really good access at the finish line, and neil did his usual various spots around the course.
One of the benefits of those looping classics, if you have transport you can see the race two or three times.

+1 on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Here, I want to expand on the idea of doubling up on the bigger races with smaller precedents within the same (long) weekend.

The Omloop has many of the same famous bergs as the Ronde but with infinitely more manageable crowds. Makes it easier to do two or three stops in the same race.

I also saw Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, which you can do in the same weekend because it runs the day after OHN. Again, much quieter and sometimes almost as dramatic, though this year's freak weather made things a bit unpleasant.

Likewise, you can easily combine the end of the Driedaagse De Panne with the Ronde, given that only a day separates the end of one and the date of the other. Here, you even get triple value in that the last day at De Panne features a split stage, so you get a road race finish just before lunchtime and the final time trial in the afternoon.

De Panne is a nice little seaside town and in good weather, as it was this year, it's strangely irresistable in the same way as salty licorice. The novelty of packing into the bars with lots of fans just down from the finish line and watching the race approach as you enjoy a Sint Bernardus 12 is one of my personal highlights of this year.

I've linked to my write-ups before, but here they are again anyway:

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Three Days of De Panne

 

[galaxy1]

talking of semi-classics, i can't recommend gent-wevelgem highly enough after going this year (if you consider that a "smaller race") - the new course design is a big improvement, making it a more selective and spectator-friendly race.

we found it easy to ride a decent chunk of the course not long before the race, and then watch in four places without much planning or haste. finished by riding up the kemmelberg (the peloton had already been through once), watching them come through again at the top, and piling into the beer tent to watch the finale on the big screen there. it was busy but not offensively overcrowded. a superb day out.

also caught a couple of days from de panne that week - pretty decent as well.

 

[CatsNK]

Has anyone here been to the Giro? I dream of trying to go watch. Fun times with the crazy Italians or just a crowded zoo??